Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers: Kenny in race against time to be fit

BRIAN McDERMOTT will give Paddy Kenny as much time as possible to prove his fitness ahead of the New Year’s Day home clash with Blackburn Rovers.

Kenny suffered an ankle injury in the first 20 seconds of Sunday’s loss to Nottingham Forest and bravely soldiered on, despite being in obvious discomfort. Alex Cairns, whose sole senior United appearance came in November 2011, is on standby to replace Kenny – who has not missed a first-team game this term – if he misses out.

Teenage midfielder Alex Mowatt is on the mend after having an injection to help clear up a back problem picked up last summer.

On Kenny’s prospects, McDermott said: “We’ll see.

“He’s had ice on his ankle, which was stiff overnight.

“He did really well to get through the game. We’ll give him the opportunity to get it right.”

On Mowatt, he added: “Alex has had an injection in his back and we are hopeful. I had to take him out of the team because he’s had a bit of an issue over the summer, which has kind of come back.

“We’re thinking we might have got rid of that, so we’re hopeful Alex might be back.”